Expect a fundraising campaign soon to raise hundreds of millions of dollars for the University of Cincinnati.

UC's overlapping priorities range from athletics to medicine, all projects the college says will allow the university to compete nationally. But their price tags range from $10 million to more than $100 million during the next half-dozen years.

They include investing in the Cincinnati Cancer Center to reach the top national designation, building a new neuroscience building on the medical-school campus, renovating Fifth Third Arena, and hiring dozens of new researchers and teachers in engineering and other high-growth areas.

At stake are UC's ambitions to be an elite national research university that also competes at the highest level of college sports and provide access and affordability.

A statue of a Bearcat keeps watch at Fifth Third Arena at UC. Tony Jones/The Cincinnati Enquirer

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UC trustees will start by recruiting local business executives to an advisory group. That undoubtedly will shape what President Santa Ono is calling the "Third Century," a reference to the university's bicentennial in 2019.

UC will rely on private donations for most of the new programs.

And don't count on big spending from UC's $1.1 billion endowment. Trustees signaled Tuesday that even the 4.5 percent payout to the annual budget it plans to reach next year may have to be decreased. The endowment also provides most funding for UC's fundraising foundation.

"These are not easy decisions," Ono said about the endowment. "There will be a little bit of pain."

All of this comes as UC is spending $86 million to renovate Nippert Stadium. Private suites, club seat tickets and donations will pay that bill. And Fifth Third Arena needs a renovation, which could cost $50 million or more.

Tuesday, trustees heard about new priorities. First, UC hopes to hire 50 new faculty in the College of Engineering and Applied Science during the next five years.

It also is working to gain designation from the National Cancer Institute for the Cincinnati Cancer Center, a joint program with Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and UC Health.■